A10945:807
Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading…Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading…
Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading and guiding to true happiness, both in this life, and in the life to come: and may be called the practise of Christianity. Profitable for all such as heartily desire the same: in the which, more particularly true Christians may learn how to lead a godly and comfortable life every day. Penned by Richard Rogers, preacher of the word of God at Wethersfield in Essex.Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading and guiding to true happines, both in this life, and in the life to come: and may be called the practise of Christianitie. Profitable for all such as heartily desire the same: in the which, more particularly true Christians may learne how to leade a godly and comfortable life euery day. Penned by Richard Rogers, preacher of the word of God at Wethersfield in Essex.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1603
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Now follow the examples or particular meditations, which I thought good to adjoin to that which hath been said of this matter, to teach the ignorant; and to help even the stronger Christians, when they be not so fit to help themselves; and never out of season or unprofitable to either of both: I set some of them down more briefly, that they may give occasion ⟨p. 246⟩to the persons when they are fittest for brevity, to discourse of the matters §Econtained in them (seeing they be such as shall ever concern them) and apply them to their own estate more at large to move their hearts to practise them. I set down some of them more largely and fully, that such as feel themselves more barren and unable to call to mind such good things, as they would be glad sometime to think on, may with less trouble be satisfied, while they shall need no more but to read them (so many of them at one time as may be fit to move their affections) and then to consider of them, and examine themselves by them, whether they be with them, or against them, that the end thereof may be peace to them by their readiness always to yield to that which they ought. I have not set down too few,§G least they should soon grow too common; nor too many, least they should be too tedious, seeing the book it self is large, and they serve not only for meditation, but also to help the practise of the whole book. This I thought good to say about this thing.
Now follow the examples or particular meditations, which I thought good to adioyne to that which hath been said of this matter, to teach the ignorant; and to helpe euen the stronger Christians, when they be not so fit to helpe themselues; and neuer out of season or vnprofitable to either of both: I set some of them downe more briefly, that they may giue occasion ⟨p. 246⟩to the persons when they are fittest for breuitie, to discourse of the matters §Econtained in them (seeing they be such as shall euer concerne them) and apply them to their owne estate more at large to moue their hearts to practise them. I set downe some of them more largely and fully, that such as feele themselues more barraine and vnable to call to minde such good things, as they would be glad sometime to thinke on, may with lesse trouble be satisfied, while they shall neede no more but to reade them (so many of them at one time as may be fit to moue their affections) and then to consider of them, and examine themselues by them, whether they be with them, or against them, that the end thereof may be peace to them by their readines alwaies to yeeld to that which they ought. I haue not set downe too few,